24 UI Health Care nurses recognized as 2025 Great Iowa Nurses
Celebrating UI Health Care nurses for their outstanding dedication to patients and the profession
Every year, the Great Iowa Nurses program recognizes nurses across the state who go above and beyond every day to provide safe, compassionate care for their patients and share their knowledge and leadership with their communities. We are proud to announce that 24 UI Health Care nurses were named among this year’s distinguished group.
“Each of these individuals exemplifies the compassion, expertise, and resilience that define our nursing community within UI Health Care,” says Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, vice president for medical affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean of the Carver College of Medicine. “We are so proud of their achievements and grateful for the outstanding care they provide to our patients every day.”
This year’s honorees represent a variety of nursing professionals who have made a meaningful impact on both their patients and colleagues across our health care system.
“We are thrilled that 24 of our exceptional nurses from UI Health Care have been honored as 2025 Great Iowa Nurses,” says Lou Ann Montgomery, PhD, MAN, RN, NPD-BC, FAAN, associate chief nursing officer. “This recognition highlights their unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care and their dedication to advancing the nursing profession.”
2025 UI Health Care honorees
- Natalie Aunan, BSN, RN, staff nurse, Surgical and Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit
- Jared R. Barth, BSN, RN, CCRN, NREMT, staff nurse, Medical Intensive Care Unit
- Julie Boothby, MSN, RN, CNRN, SCRN, nursing practice leader, Medical Surgical Services
- Aimee Cusic, BSN, RN, CAPA, assistant nurse manager, Ambulatory Surgery Center
- Lindsay Fayram, BSN, RN, CCRN, interim nurse manager, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
- Jenessa Franco, MSN, RN, OCN, nurse manager, Medical-Surgical Oncology Unit
- Kelly Hartz, BSN, BBA, RN, nurse manager, Adult Psychiatry Unit
- Courtney Heid, BSN, RN, BMTCN, staff nurse, Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapies Unit
- Mandi Houston, MSN, RN, CCRN, nursing practice leader, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
- Heather Humphrey, BSN, RN, house operations manager, downtown campus
- Kimberly Hunter, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, chief nurse executive
- Molly Kucera, MBAHC, BSN, RN, CNAMB(E), CNOR, associate director, nursing services, Ambulatory Surgery Center
- Pam Kunert, MSN, RN, INF-BC, nursing practice leader, Nursing Informatics
- Monica Lamb, BSN, RN, assistant nurse manager, Burn Treatment Center
- Abby Lewis, MBA, BSN, RN, nurse manager, Medical Surgical Cardiology Unit
- Jessica McDaniel, MBA, BSN, RN, CCRN, nurse manager, Medicine Specialty Unit
- Renee McGinnis, MSN, RN, CPN, clinical practice leader, Pediatric Specialty Clinic
- Megan Neiman, MNHP, RN, staff nurse, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit
- Heidi Robinson, DNP, RN, CNML, nursing practice leader, Magnet®
- Samuel Ryan, BSN, RN, staff nurse, Medical Intensive Care Unit
- Katie Schneider, MSN, RN, CEN, clinical coordinator, Emergency Department at the university campus
- Jess Shever, MSN, RN, CCRN, interim assistant nurse manager, Medical Intensive Care Unit
- Allison Suckow, BSN, RN, staff nurse, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit
- Madison Zahradnek, BSN, RN, CCRN, staff nurse, Medical Intensive Care Unit
